Sunday, December 28, 2008

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2008 -- The following news release made available by the U.S. Defense Department is the text of a statement by the commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force regarding a suicide attack Sunday in Khowst province, eastern Afghanistan:

This morning a vehicle borne suicide bomber detonated himself outside the Mando Zayi District centre in Khowst province eastern Afghanistan. In the process he killed 16 Afghans and wounded 58 others. 14 children were amongst those killed and one was an Afghan national army soldier.

Gen. McKiernan, Commander International Security Assistance Force, offered his sincere condolences to the families of those innocent civilians killed and injured by this callous and indiscriminate attack. “This attack once again demonstrates the insurgents’ complete disregard for the people of Afghanistan whom they claim to represent. The brutality and disregard for human life by terrorists is sickening, as I continue to witness innocent men, women and children being killed and maimed in the pursuit of this pointless insurgency. We believe that the Haqanni network of terrorists and enemies of Afghanistan were directly responsible for this barbaric act. When the world looks at innocent civilian casualties, this attack again shows the insurgent purposefully causes this suffering. Acts such as these only serve to strengthen the international communities’ resolve to support the Afghan people in the pursuit of a more secure, stable and peaceful future.”